Журнал садоводства
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Gamete Selection for Macro-Nutrient Selection of Ca, Mg and K in Tall fescue

Bryan Kindiger

Innovations in plant breeding can achieve advances toward plant improvement by simplifying selection procedures and allowing rapid consolidation of advantageous gene systems. A gamete selection, dihaploid induction approach is being investigated for tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb. (syn=Lolium arundinaceum (Schreb.) Darbysh)) that can provide for rapid nutritional improvements in the forage profile of the species. Grass tetany or hypomagnesemia causes severe losses from death or reduced performance in livestock throughout the world. Dietary Mg supplementation adds to the annual cost of labour and production of grazing livestock and does not always ensure that all animals receive adequate amounts of Mg. The research presented here reviews the outcome of the implementation of a new dihaploid breeding and selection approach that can stabilize the complex genetic mineral characteristics of Ca, Mg and K of tall fescue into a homozygous, dihaploid state. Results of the study suggest the application of a dihaploid selection approach will be an efficient and advantageous methodology for future tall fescue cultivar development and reducing livestock losses due to hypomagnesemia.